Students

Jacklyn Alsbro is an MPA/EAP student at the La Follette School of Public Affairs with interests in crafting energy policy for an equitable, resilient, and sustainable future. She earned her B.S. from Michigan State University in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. As an undergraduate research assistant, she led a project that tracked the PPA revenues of renewable energy projects in Michigan, where she quantified the revenues impact to local communities. Through the EAP program, she hopes to bridge the gap between the drafting and implementation of energy policy ensuring communities’ voices are fully heard and realized through decision-making process. Jacklyn was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2024.

Mohammad Eshaghi is a MPA student at the La Follette School with a background in economics. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Bonn university in Germany and completed his undergraduate studies in Iran, where he also minored in energy economics. Professionally, Mohammad has diverse experience in the AI, finance, and oil and gas industries, working in both the public and private sectors. His roles have included economic analyst, economic researcher, and procurement assistant. Through the EAP program, Mohammad is looking forward to gain more insight into the world of renewables and energy transition.

Jerrold Acdan is a graduate student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. As a member of the Pierce Research Group, he investigates the formation, spatial distribution, and transport of air pollutants using satellite retrievals, field campaign data, and atmospheric chemistry models. Through the EAP program, Jerrold is excited to learn about the energy sector and its impacts on climate and air quality. Before coming to UW-Madison, he received a B.A. in Chemistry and Geography from UC Berkeley in 2017 and worked as a Project Coordination Fellow for the NASA DEVELOP National Program.

Ryder Belgarde is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, working as a graduate researcher in the Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory under Dr. Mark Anderson.  Ryder’s research relates to studying thermal fluid fluctuations in Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) nuclear cores and how those can transfer and potentially damage the containment structures. He is designing a scaled experiment that will simulate the reactor conditions, using molten sodium to be able to help qualify a SFR that is being built in Wyoming by TerraPower. Ryder received a B.S. in Mech. Engineering from North Dakota State University in 2021, and a Masters in Science from UW-Madison in 2023. He has a strong interest in energy policy and how to include nuclear energy with other sustainable sources of energy.

Matilyn Bindl is an MS student in the Nelson Institute’s Environment and Resources program, where she is excited to pursue her PhD in energy and climate policy under the guidance of Dr. Morgan Edwards of the La Follette School of Public Affairs. Matilyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 with her BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. During her undergraduate and post-baccalaureate career, she worked as a research assistant to Dr. Tracey Holloway at the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), where she explored solutions regarding air quality, climate, and public health. Matilyn also serves as the Program Coordinator for Science-A-Thon, an annual social media event that increases the visibility of science and creates opportunities for women and minorities in STEM. Matilyn was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Jennifer is a PhD student with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Her research, supervised by Prof. Dominic Groß, relates to grid-forming control of power converters for reliable and stable integration of renewable energy into the bulk power system. Through a graduate minor in Energy Analysis and Policy, she strives to contribute to accessible and equitable energy solutions. On campus, Jennifer is also a Graduate Engineering Research Scholar (GERS) and on the student advisory board for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Funding. Before joining UW-Madison, she earned an honors degree in Engineering and Physics from Brown University, in which her thesis explored the optimization and design of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Jennifer was a recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and the 2022 Energy Analysis and Policy Scholarship. Outside of the classroom, Jennifer enjoys knitting, walking, and cooking new recipes.

Harsh is a graduate student in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department at UW Madison. He completed an integrated master’s in chemical engineering at ICT Mumbai Marathwada Campus in India, where he spent time interning and researching in chemical industries. He has a keen interest in the field of catalysis and sustainable chemistry driven by modern tools in the current world. He has joined the EAP program with a strong interest in looking at the intersection of various industrial policies and technical advances for a more sustainable future in all frameworks. Apart from work, Harsh enjoys exploring and trying different cuisines, loves to cook, visits new places, engages in photography, and listens to electronic dance music.

Daritza is a PhD student in the Environment and Resources program at the Nelson Institute. She is interested in air quality, climate change, and health equity. Daritza hopes to help communities who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution and climate change. Daritza was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Jake Erickson is a PhD student in the Environment and Resources program and Agricultural and Applied Economics program. His research investigates the distributional equity impacts of clean energy and decarbonization policies and technologies in the US and abroad. Prior to grad school, Jake worked in the energy analysis sector, consulting for major utilities in the US and conducting original research on energy access and development in Sub-Saharan Africa and the South Pacific. When not coding in R, Jake can be found running or biking the many trails of Madison, spending time in the garden, or re-watching Marvel movies with his partner and two cats.

Francie Fink is an MPA student in the La Follette School of Public Affairs who is interested in policy decisions informed by the transition to decarbonized economy. Her undergraduate research at the University of Notre Dame in aquatic ecology and the role of self-governing lake associations prompted an interest in regulation and the role of social-ecological systems in climate change mitigation. Her post-college experiences serving in AmeriCorps and later, consulting at a nonprofit in South Bend, Indiana, inspired her to pursue the technical education that the EAP program provides. Most notably, Francie recently led a project focusing on program design and implementation at the local government level for Inflation Reduction Act residential energy efficiency incentives. 

Sam Garcia is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics with a minor in Energy Analysis and Policy. His current research focuses on modeling multi-physics phenomena for nuclear micro-reactors to understand how to optimize for cost, safety, and performance. Sam received a BS in Nuclear Engineering from UW-Madison with a minor in pure mathematics in May 2021, where his research focused on developing testing methods for High-Entropy Alloys as an advanced nuclear material. With his current and previous experiences, Sam seeks to establish nuclear technology as a flexible energy source capable of being deployed in established, developing, or remote grid systems. In his free time he enjoys hiking, weightlifting and cooking for friends. Sam is a 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Jenna Greene is a MPA/EAP student at the La Follette School studying public affairs. She also works as a project assistant with Prof. Nemet on topics related to climate and energy policies. Jenna graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, MN, after which she spent time in Omaha, NE working in community engagement and Minneapolis, MN working with cities and counties on local-level solar policies and climate action planning. Jenna is particularly interested in the links between climate and energy policies with housing, transportation, and labor policies to alleviate societal disparities. Jenna was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Sara Hartke is a graduate student in Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she is pursuing her master’s degree under the guidance of Nimish Pujara and Jennifer Franck (in the Engineering Physics department). She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas in May 2020 before starting at UW-Madison as a research assistant in Fall 2021. Sara has previously participated in research on designing a 6-DOF platform for a scaled wind turbine at UT-Dallas. She is interested in fluid dynamics and renewable energy, and her research focuses on exploring the effects of waves/turbulence on crossflow turbines in waterways. Sara was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Xiyuan Hu is a Ph.D. student in the Population Health Sciences of UW-Madison. She is
interested in analyzing health issues via the perspective of the interaction of economics
and energy, especially the effects and implications of energy using on the status of
population health.

Ugochukwu Ikegwu is a graduate student (Ph.D.) in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change” and “at present, we are stealing the future and calling it GDP.” This captures the crux of his interest in the energy sector; analyzing and reengineering the energy infrastructures, developing new technologies, studying existing policies and the economics to aid efficient energy transition. He completed his B.Eng. degree in Chemical Engineering from Landmark University, Nigeria, in 2017, and his M.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 2021, both with distinctions. Upon his M.Sc. completion, his research birthed an energy consulting firm called Enviroenerg solutions in South Africa, where he served as a director and principal process engineer before joining UW-Madison. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess, soccer and having engaging conversations about humanity. He looks forward to the rewarding experience and knowledge to be gained from the EAP program.

Unni is a graduate student in the Chemical & Biological Engineering department at UW-Madison. After graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2018, he spent 18 months as a systems engineer outside of Boston, designing and installing control systems in the pharmaceutical industry. He has joined the EAP program out of a strong interest in combining his technical interests with a deeper understanding of the policy and economic considerations that make technological progress possible. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, exploring his local community, and sitting down for a discussion with anyone on politics. Unni was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Dorothy Lsoto is a graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. in Environment and Resources at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Prior to graduate school, Dorothy has been working in East Africa, Uganda on several renewable energy research projects like solar, biomass and biogas. She has also done a lot of work with air quality in institutions and schools using biogas versus firewood for cooking. She loves working with communities and introducing them to clean energies. Her main interests are renewable energy; currently she works with Prof. Jonathan Patz. Dorothy was awarded the EAP International Student Scholarship in 2018.

Ali Mammadov is from Azerbaijan and pursuing a Master of Public Affairs and an Energy Analysis and Policy graduate certificate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with an impressive background. Having completed a bachelor’s degree with distinction diploma in Public Affairs at ADA University, Ali furthered his academic experience through Erasmus+ exchange studies in Latvia and Lithuania. His primary research area involves analyzing and integrating social welfare policies with the energy sector, displaying a passion for progressive and sustainable public policies.

Throughout his undergraduate years, Ali showcased exceptional leadership as the president of the “Speak for Youth” organization for three years, while also excelling as a research methodology and statistics tutor at ADA University. With enriching internships at the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Hungary, International Bank of Azerbaijan, AIESEC in Poland, and AIESEC in Turkiye, he has honed practical insights. Furthermore, his dedication to volunteerism, starting from the age of 15, includes active participation in major events such as UEFA Baku 2019, EURO 2020, Formula 1, Baku Islamic Games, and public and private sector organizations. Ali’s commitment to academic excellence is evident through two published research papers, a co-author journal, and a significant capstone project. Awarded numerous national and international grants, Ali strives to make a positive impact in society through transformative projects. Ready to bring his expertise and passion to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ali is poised to leave a lasting and positive mark on the academic community and beyond.

Maitreyee is a graduate student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. She is advised by Prof. Giri Venkataramanan and is a student member of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC). She completed her undergraduate studies in India, where she worked with grassroots organizations for rural electrification. Her graduate work is on microgrids and their applications to remote electrification and resilient energy solutions for home healthcare. Maitreyee was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Cecilia (she/her) is an M.S. student at the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. Her research with Dr. Tracey Holloway is centered around air quality, policy, and environmental justice. In this role, Cecilia has evaluated the potential for sulfur dioxide emission clusters to adversely impact air quality and health outcomes. She has also analyzed how underrepresented groups are affected by ozone and how NOx and VOC reduction scenarios can benefit these groups. Cecilia aspires to build a research career analyzing regulation to re-inform policy that will lessen the disparities in air pollution. In her free time, Cecilia enjoys plant-based cooking, hiking, and training for triathlons. Cecilia was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2023.

Dahlia Saba is a PhD student in the department of Electrical & Computer Engineering working with Prof. Dominic Groß. Her research focuses on ensuring the stability of electrical grids with high levels of renewable energy, with a particular focus on offshore wind farms. Prior to joining UW Madison, she got her B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UC Berkeley. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and doing the crossword.

Cara Scalpone is an M.S. student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, conducting research with Dr. Tracey Holloway to improve air quality modeling for applications in environmental and public health policy. Cara studied environmental science and mathematics as an undergraduate at Pitzer College, focusing on anthropogenic impacts on ecological systems. She previously conducted research quantifying the impacts of climate change on ecosystem services from estuaries and forests. Prior to joining the AOS department and EAP program, Cara worked as an air quality modeler for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality providing technical analysis for state-level air quality plans. Cara was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2023.

Faustina, originally from Ghana, holds an MSc in Data Science and AI from Queen Mary University of London and an MPhil in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Ghana. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering under Dr. Andrea Hicks. Her research focuses on using Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions in emerging food processing technologies.

Gabriel Shapiro is a graduate student in the Department of Geography and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. His research is focused on the political ecology of energy transitions. He grew up in upstate NY and received a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in Environmental Studies. When he isn’t learning, he loves to ski, run, and explore beautiful natural places. He was awarded an EAP student scholarship in 2023 and is honored to be a part of the Energy Analysis and Policy research hub at UW-Madison.

Jayant is a PhD student at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is part of the Anex lab at the Wisconsin Energy Institute and is working on developing a novel Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. Particularly, he is designing a lab scale continuous prototype reactor to evaluate its techno–economic feasibility, before scaling up the design to a pilot scale. Through the EAP program, he wishes to learn relevant tools like life cycle assessment, cost–benefit analysis and develop an understanding of how legislations and regulations affect the implementation of DAC at scale. Before starting his PhD, Jayant completed his master’s degree in environmental engineering from University of Florida and brings in substantive experience as a research assistant from the National Institute of Advanced Studies, India.

Kyla (she/they) is a master’s student in the Environment and Resources program. They describe themself as an Earth lover, community driven, and an interdisciplinary collaborator. She hopes to combine her lived experience with energy injustices along with her acquired knowledge from her studies to research equity implications of housing electrification. Outside of academics, Kyla loves to read romance and sci-fi novels, hang out with her two cats and partner, and spend time in nature, mainly to go birding and hiking. Kyla also engages in community projects on environmental and energy education as well as outreach for programs that save renters money on their energy bills.

Sofia Taylor is currently a research student in Electrical Engineering. As a graduate research assistant, she develops synthetic grid test cases using realistic renewable energy data and geo-located wildfire data. Sofia received a BS in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Renewable Electric Energy Systems and a minor in Environmental Science from North Carolina State University in May 2020. At the FREEDM Systems Center at NC State, Sofia contributed to the development of a wireless charging system for electric vehicles and co-authored a paper on the subject, which was accepted to APEC 2020. During a semester at University College Cork in Ireland, Sofia conducted research in wave energy converter simulation. Outside of school, Sofia volunteers for All We Are, a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to solar energy at schools and medical clinics in rural Uganda.

Zach is an MS student in the Nelson Institute’s Environment and Resources program. As a research assistant for Dr. Morgan Edwards, he will examine the effects of corporate venture capital on cleantech startup growth and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. He began researching cleantech innovation at the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland after graduating in 2019 with a BS in Physics and a BA in Government and Politics. Zach is a 2021­­­­­­­­­­­–2022 Weston Distinguished Graduate Fellow and was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Brandon Tran is a PhD student in the Computer Science department, also pursuing an Energy Analysis and Policy certificate. His research centers on power and energy consumption within the field of computer science, with a specific emphasis on high-performance computing (HPC). Recently, he completed an internship at Oak Ridge National Lab, conducting experiments on their cutting-edge supercomputers. Currently, he is engaged in the development of a fine-grained energy model aimed at offering insights into energy consumption across various workloads to enhance software optimization.

Paul Vang is an MBA student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Supply Chain Management with a certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy. Formerly a chemistry teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools, Paul’s dedication to educational equity and community advocacy led him to a role as a community organizer, where he worked on local elections and led grassroots community campaigns in the city of Milwaukee. His various experiences fostered a passion for environmental justice, green energy technology, and sustainable business solutions. At UW-Madison, Paul is combining his diverse professional background with business strategy and energy analysis, aiming to drive positive change at the intersection of business and sustainability in order to promote a greener, more sustainable future.

Javiera is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Energy Analysis and Policy. Her research centers on applying optimization techniques to develop decision-making tools to promote the energy transition. Before embarking on her Ph.D. journey, Javiera earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Chile in 2022. While there, she focused on designing and evaluating renewable energy systems within the mining sector, showcasing her commitment to addressing critical energy and environmental challenges. Following her graduate studies, Javiera gained practical experience as an energy consultant, advising financial institutions on financing renewable energy projects in South America. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, and cross-stitching. She looks forward to learning in an interdisciplinary environment and gaining experience with real-world projects through the EAP program.

My name is Xinran Wu, a graduate student in the Environment & Resources program of Nelson Institute. The research that I am doing is about the multi-pollutant emissions reduction strategies and the potential impacts on carbon reduction, specifically in energy and transportation sector. I am so glad to join the EAP community and receive the expertise from prestigious EAP faculty members. I really learned a lot from both energy and policy perspective. I would love to share this exciting program with more prospective students!

Luyi Zeng is currently pursuing the Environment & Resource PhD at UW-Madison. Her research interests center on studying interactions between environment, agriculture, and policy within the Economics analysis framework, mainly how agricultural systems respond to energy policies, regulations, and climate crises. Her current work focus on the estimates of agricultural land use change attributable to biofuel policies in the U.S. She is also working on examining agricultural adaptations to climate crisis through the lens of cross-border trade of agricultural products. In her spare time, she likes hiking, exploring stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife.